gently indicating her soft rounded bosom with one gauntleted
hand.

Then her smile broke out again, and the man's trouble was further
increased.

"Y'see, I don't mind saying things to you. You're my Daddy and Momma
all rolled into one. And there's sure a heap of you for two," she
smiled up at him. "Maybe you don't always say all the things you feel,
but it don't keep me guessing long. You'd a heap of terr'ble, terr'ble
things on your mind to say to me on this ride. Oh, and they weighed
heavy. Your poor worried face had lost all its smile, and your eyes
just looked as if you'd been lying awake nights an' nights, an' you'd
seen every sort of nightmare ever thought of in the world of dreams.
It made me kind of sorry, and I just couldn't wait for you to make that
big talk you figgered on."

Bud was gazing far out ahead at the brilliant sky-line where the crests
of grass-land cut the line in perfect undulations. Nan's gently drawn
sigh was like the stab of a knife in his heart. His feelings at that
moment were too deep for words. And so the girl went on in a voice
that struck fresh chords of sympathy in the soul of the man who
idolized her.

"It seems to me, my Daddy, that we often think things that a great big
Someone don't guess are good for us to think. We sort of set up hopes
we've no right to. An' when we do, why, we've got to be handed our
lessons. Sometimes the lesson is pretty tough, sometimes I don't guess
it's a deal worse than a pin-prick. Anyway, lessons aren't joyous
things at best, not even pin-pricks. Well, if folks are right they'll
just learn their lessons all they can without kicking, and if they get
a hunch on, why, I don't figger it's likely to make 'em harder. I've
been learning my lesson a whole week now, and, yes, I've got it right.
Oh, I've had to work. It hasn't been easy. And somehow, my Daddy, all
these lovely, lovely gowns, and the thought of the generous hands that
gave them to me, have helped me to learn quicker, and--better."

She paused again. Their horses were ambling leisurely along over the
sandy trail. They moved together, side by side, in a closeness of
companionship which perhaps symbolized that of their riders.

"I jest don't know what to say, Nan. I surely don't," Bud lumbered at
last with a half-bewildered drawing together of his heavy brows. "It
don't seem I ken even think right--about it."

Nan gazed up into his big troubled face with the frank eyes tha